US Govt releases FB ads Russia used to meddle in election

A TROVE of Facebook ads made public by the US Congress this week show Russia's extraordinary cyber intrusion into American life in 2016 - and most of them are downright bizarre.

Included in the ads targeted at American citizens by Russian-linked interests included one promoting a colouring-in book featuring pictures of 76-year-old Democratic senator Bernie Sanders as a buff, speedo-clad superhero.

Another displays the devil and Jesus arm wrestling with the devil saying if he wins, so too does Hillary Clinton.

One Facebook ad prompted users to follow a YouTube channel about a man trying to convince the world he is the "out-of-wedlock" secret love child of Bill Clinton.

Ostensibly, the low budget, social media "shadow ads" were designed to target specific demographics and foster support or opposition to Bernie Sanders, Muslims, gay people, African-Americans and the icons of the civil rights movement in America.

The US government released a small sample of the more than 3000 ads overnight. Some of them attack or promote individual politicians while others promote anti-Muslim or anti-immigration sentiment.